Amit Shah takes serious view of MPs absence from Rajya Sabha

New Delhi: BJP chief Amit Shah has taken a serious note of the absence of party members from the Rajya Sabha (RS) and the absentee MPs are likely to be asked for an explanation.

Shah made his displeasure clear at the BJP parliamentary party meeting on Tuesday, a day after the government faced an embarrassing situation in the Upper House with a united opposition pushing some changes to the Constitution amendment bill on backward classes.

On Monday, more than 30 MPs from the BJP and its allied parties, including at least five ministers, were absent.

The BJP chief has reportedly asked members to ensure it is not repeated. The BJP is likely to seek a written explanation from absentee Rajya Sabha MPs, as per sources.

Last week, over lack of attendance of the party MPs, PM Modi had asked them to ensure their presence in Parliament through the day. PM Modi reportedly told the BJP lawmakers that it was their responsibility to get the bills passed and not the opposition.

Meanwhile, Senior Congress leader and former Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram accused the BJP of not being serious about passing the Other Backward Class (OBC) Commission Bill.